Graz University of Technology Inffeldgasse Campus

Project data

Year

Status

Awards / Phase

PPurchased

Type

Size 
20.000 m2

47.0587, 15.4575

Silicon Austria Labs 2021 - Extension of the Inffeldgasse Campus
EU-wide, Architectural Competition, Purchase, 2018

Urban Configuration

The conceptual approach considers the area in its entirety. The basic framework for this campus structure is an ensemble of serial buildings that allow for freely scalable expansion without affecting the open framework.
The democratic arrangement of the volumes, on a connecting base, offers great flexibility in use and possibilities for further expansion.

The formulation of the entrances, the promenade and the connected public spaces, define a compact campus structure in the midst of high-quality green spaces and a multi-layered urban integration.

Green Campus Lane and Divergent Open Spaces

Campus Promenade
The linear open space, between the existing building and the extension, is designed as a spatially sequenced promenade, which creates both an efficient traffic route and overlapping, attractive and varied outdoor space. A semi-public area, assigned to the SAL Campus, will be created with playable surfaces, meeting points, lounge areas, seating stairs and meadows for lying and sitting. Paved surfaces and lawn stones allow all buildings to be directly supplied with motor vehicles according to the shared space principle.

Patios
Between the comb-like building components, two patios are being created on the ground floor. From the 1st floor, it looks like sunken gardens: places of peace and relaxation with multi-trunk ornamental trees and a small square in the greenery. Beds, with grasses and perennials, enrich and accentuate these garden areas, while bringing valuable daylight deep into the base.

Green Carpet
From south to north, towards Sandgasse, two "green carpets" stretch (each between the axis of the patios) from the 1st floor to the ground floor. They are clamped in the stairways with seating steps and green stripes. East Asian Cherries and Amelanchiers form a botanical bracket here, thus strengthening the green carpet.

Architectural Criteria and Functionality

The Base as a Connection
In the ground floor zone, the laboratory and workshop areas form the functional basis for the SAL building. The clear structure allows for a flexible and adaptable use and for future developments. The central patios and generous connections, to the adjoining green spaces, offer a high quality of stay for all work and front areas.
For the upper floors, the base forms the interface from inside to outside:
In the interior, the vertical campus creates a generous vertical band of two staircases between the areas, aclear and generous communication and access area for everyone. Seen as an outdoor space element, the stepped base also connects the upper office areas directly with the campus promenade. This allows independent access for the subareas.

Education in the Centre
The seminar areas, on the first floor, can be reached directly via the outside stairs and the central foyer. Teaching, as a central university element, forms the spatial centre of this structure. The generous front area creates spatial synergies and thus, add value to the entire building. The directly adjoining green open areas and terraces further enhance these zones.

Flexibility as an Office Concept
A clear construction grid, in combination with reasonable ceiling spans, allows for quick and easy separation and interconnection of the individual office units that correspond to the specific requirements (individual or group offices, open structures with communicative pre-zones, flexible area definitions, etc.).
A clear development, between the building elements, creates an overview for employees, students and visitors; green terraces and open areas significantly enhance the working environment.

The necessary infrastructure (sanitary facilities, IT, kitchenettes, etc.) is grouped in the core areas, allowing full use of the valuable lighting areas for the workplaces.

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